Honors Literary Devices

A word formed from the first letter of each word in a series.

a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes...10 syllables per line

Told from the narrator's point of view, using"I".

The parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning.

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

A line that consists of five "feet", each containing an unaccented & accented syllable

Words that have similar or the same meaning.

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but really expresses truth

a short moral story (often with animal characters)

introduces the character, setting and basic situation

the central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer

A brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event.

poem with five lines rhyming aabba and a set rhythm

Any one of a variety of tools a writer may use to achieve the tone or communicate the purpose.

A unit of poetic meter, used for line lengths most common in English poetry

A symbol, story pattern, or character type that is found in the literature of many cultures.

The direct opposite, a sharp contrast.

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or make a point.

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

A Japanese form of poetry, made of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables

the series of conflict or struggles that build a story toward a climax

A brief written record or communication, used within an office.

Drama in which the protagonist is overcome by some superior force or circumstance.

description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

A humorous play on words.

A scene that interrupts the action of a work to show a previous event.

The common American language, words and grammatical forms that are used and expected.

The use of words that imitate sounds.

To make an overstatement or to stretch the truth, hyperbole.

the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot

The fundamental or core meaning of a word.

Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred.

the literal dictionary meaning of a word

A letter or syllable added to the end of a word.

word or phrase used in everyday conversation, but often not used in formal writing (y'all aint)

A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way.

A generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.

Used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things.

A humorous imitation of a serious work.

An expression that cannot be understood if taken literally.

A short narrative designed to teach a moral lesson.

end of the story where loose ends are tied up

The skillful manipulation of words, often for humorous effect. 

The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature.

A story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable.

Narrator is outside the action and refers to characters as he or she.

A person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself, but also represents something else

An account of the writer's own life.

similarity of structure in a pair or or series of related words

The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning.

When an object or event represents or stands for something.

most exciting moment of the story; turning point

A type of writing that ridicules the shortcomings of people in an attempt to make a change.

The basic word you start with before adding prefixes or suffixes.

A reference to something literary or historical that the author assumes the reader will know.

A written or typed note to help one remember something.

repetition of consonant sound within words

A syllable or word that comes before a root word to change its meaning.

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

expresses a resemblance between thing of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as")

part used as whole (hand used for sailor) or whole used as part (law for police)

A written account of events one has lived through; an autobiography.

Refers to the suggested meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition.

Told from the reader's point of view, using "you".

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution.

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as.

 A worn-out idea or overused expression.

the analysis of a poem's meter...the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

words that are pronounced the same way but differ in meaning or spelling or both (bear bare)

repetition of similar vowel sounds

A belief or statement taken for granted without proof.

Two words that are pronounced or spelled the same way but have different meanings.

The rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language